3.01.2005

New storage technology

The BU researchers used electron-beam lithography -- a routine fabrication technique for micro-electromechanical (MEMS) devices -- to carve the switches from single-crystal wafers of silicon and silicon oxide.

"This is a new ball game," said BU physicist Pritiraj Mohanty. "By taking a new look at old technology, we have produced memory cells that are faster and better than those currently used. This mechanical device is a completely new approach to improving data storage."

Also:

The tiny switches also use "a million-fold less" power than current electromagnetic systems.